Digital image file including optical code

Abstract

A digital image file includes an image portion including a first digital image, an information portion including a second digital image of a digital code encoding information associated with or derived from the first digital image. When rendered visible the second digital image is a machine-readable optical code.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]Reference is made to commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 094,930 filed Apr. 27, 2011, entitled “Visibly Forming an Image and Optical Code” by Ronald S. Cok and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 094,943 filed Apr. 27, 2011, entitled “Producing an Image and Optical Code File” by Ronald S. Cok, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to machine-readable optical codes and, more particularly, to the use of machine-readable optical codes with digital image files.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Machine-readable optical codes have been in use for many years. The ubiquitous one-dimensional barcode is used for product tracking and to automate purchases. For example, one-dimensional barcodes are in widespread use for managing point-of-sale purchase transactions using computer-controlled laser scanners.[0004]More recently, two-dimensional codes, also known as matr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]The present invention provides a structure for associating image metadata with an image and provides greater utility for storing and retrieving images and associated image information over a wider variety of media. In particular, the present invention provides a way to associate metadata with an image in printed form and to convert printed metadata to digital metadata and vice versa in a robust, efficient, and low-cost manner.

Problems solved by technology

However, image metadata is very tedious and difficult to store with printed images.

Although the metadata itself can be stored separately from a printed image in an electronic storage system, the association between the printed image and the image metadata can be lost.

Alternatively, image metadata is printed with an image on a substrate medium such as paper, for example as text, but retrieving and interpreting the printed information can be difficult.

Images